'Finn should have a sentence that acknowledges his mental health issues': Parents of American student who knifed Rome cop to death in botched coke deal say he's not well Finnegan Lee Elder, 21, stabbed Carabiniere Mario Cerciello Rega 11 times in July 2019 with a 7-inch knife Last week, Elder and friend Gabriel Natale-Hjorth were sentenced to life in prison - the harshest punishment in Italy Finnegan's parents Ethan and Leah appeared on GMA on Monday to brand the punishment too harsh They say their son has mental health issues that should have been taken into account Finnegan's uncle last week said that he had been paranoid ever since he started taking drugs in school